What did you do to or on your Kubota today?

[Jasonized]

We are in a similar situation in that we use a LOT of power.......well pump, hot water heater, forced hot air heating, centra A/C, mini-splits for the basement, hot tub, etc. add in some of the nation's highest electrical rates and our electric bill is between $350 and 650/month so the payoff timeline for us on this is only in the 8-9 year range.

This is a retirement play for us (we 48 and 49).......I can't control property taxes or healthcare costs we will face in retirement but I can do this and eliminate the bulk if not all our power expense and if we eventually move to at least one vehicle being an EV we are controlling even more of our expenses as a hedge against energy costs.

39 panels for us feels like a small substation but we clearly need it.

we installed 42 panels when we moved in, Also running about$375 a month in bills. First 6 years, we exported about a megawatt each year. Made a whole wopping $20 each year…
then they switched out the meter, and suddenly we are paying $1500 each year at true up. Yup. Sure, we must have increased out usage you know! Or at least, that’s what they claim. Thinking about adding a few new panels to even it out again…

Sigh. We broke even at 7.5 years, so at least we bought down the costs for retirement.

 

[Garvini]

If you did something to or on you're tractor today and you don't want to start a new thread then post it here

I installed a horn I took from a tiny Toyota and then installed a decompression cable on mine today. Was going to do a little grading on the drive but got tired
Gurn

I installed a block heater on my b26tlb…went very well…and other work from last week

 

[06B3030]

Installed the 40 amp alternator upgrade kit, and put a winch on the front.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

About 8 acres turned up with the disc in the past 2 days. A couple acres required 2 passes, the grond is very dry/hard. Gonna price/buy the grass seed today before I break any more ground. Like a casino it's a crap shoot to throw hundreds of dollars on seed and hopes we get rain.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I installed a block heater on my b26tlb…went very well…and other work from last week

Hey, you can't sneak in here on a reply to somebody else's thread. Jk Welcome to the asylum.

 

[Trapper Bob]

About 8 acres turned up with the disc in the past 2 days. A couple acres required 2 passes, the grond is very dry/hard. Gonna price/buy the grass seed today before I break any more ground. Like a casino it's a crap shoot to throw hundreds of dollars on seed and hopes we get rain.


View attachment 110467

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I feel your pain. I will pick up seed for wildlife plots tomorrow. My chance for rain went from this,

to this.

I’m not trying to make a living at this, as you may, but like to see my seed grow (& money not wasted).
Deer will be dang disappointed as well.

 

[Siesta Sundance]

I feel your pain. I will pick up seed for wildlife plots tomorrow. My chance for rain went from this, View attachment 110471

to this.
View attachment 110472
I’m not trying to make a living at this, as you may, but like to see my seed grow (& money not wasted).
Deer will be dang disappointed as well.

Holy chit the seed batch for 10 acres is $562! Plus I need to buy about 6 bags of play sand.

 

[ctfjr]

I finally got fed up looking at my filthy tractor especially with the shiney new flail mower on it. Washed it today. At least I feel better, its been a year

 

[Siesta Sundance]

I finally got fed up looking at my filthy tractor especially with the shiney new flail mower on it. Washed it today. At least I feel better, its been a year

View attachment 110476

Im really disappointed that there is no tire shine!





J/K everything I have needs a good power wash!

 

[Flintknapper]

About 8 acres turned up with the disc in the past 2 days. A couple acres required 2 passes, the grond is very dry/hard. Gonna price/buy the grass seed today before I break any more ground. Like a casino it's a crap shoot to throw hundreds of dollars on seed and hopes we get rain.

You have that place looking nice.......!

 

[g_man]

Installed the 40 amp alternator upgrade kit, and put a winch on the front.

View attachment 110461

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View attachment 110463

Nice work on that winch mount.

gg

 

[RCKM]

Getting a chill in the air around here in the evenings. Made me start thinking about snow. Had some slippage with the R4’s last year so decided to groove the tires. I based the pattern off of the new TracLoader II design.

 

[Trapper Bob]

Holy chit the seed batch for 10 acres is $562! Plus I need to buy about 6 bags of play sand.

View attachment 110475

What do you do for fertilizer?

 

[Siesta Sundance]

What do you do for fertilizer?

Well I got to have improved grasses first. This place is basically all native grasses, with a few very small patches of bermuda where cows were previously fed. I buy the 2.5 gallon of gordons liquid fertilizer to mix in 50gallon spray tanks and weed control. If I can get grass established, it will only be fertilizer in the Spring, with no weed kill I might try and order a trailer tank of the liquid manue solution from the feed store next Spring.

 

[GrizBota]

Installed the 40 amp alternator upgrade kit, and put a winch on the front.

View attachment 110461

View attachment 110462

View attachment 110463

Nice looking install. I like the custom mount. Looks like it ought to hold just fine.

 

[Toyman]

Last Saturday I went to the farm to cut the lane, trails, and about 5 acres of food plots. Needless to say, my M4050 wouldn't start. Initially it would heat the glow plugs, but when I turned to ignition it would give me a dull thud (wouldn't turn over). I've had the issue in the past, and could normally work thru it by gently engaging the starter, but this time it didn't work. I got my screwdriver and started pulling the dash off to look at the wiring. First issue was as soon as I lifted the dash, a filthy mouse was looking back at me. After it ran off, I could see a pretty good nest inside. Worse yet, the last time I hit the glow plugs it cut off all power . Needless to say, I got 0 done last Saturday.

First thing I did was order a new ignition switch, just in case. I needed to get it running before the weekend to have any chance of getting my necessary things done. Left work early yesterday and loaded up the truck with all the tools that could be needed. Pulled the dash apart to find the beginning s of a new nest which I removed and replaced with some mouse poison. Found some wires chewed on which I remedied. Then I pulled the starter switch and installed the new one. All seems easy, except its like solving a Rubix Cube getting the dash off without pulling the steering wheel. While I was in there I noticed an open wire with a male beanie end. Didn't see the female anywhere. I proceeded to get the new switch in to test. Turned the key and had power! Turned to glow plugs and the indicator heated! Turned to start and............nothin!

Sat for a few and thought about the male beanie. With all the wires close to their normal positions, I saw the female end and said a prayer. Got them together and went thru the process again and she came to life!!! Hooked up my brush hog and cut a couple acres of my spring buckwheat plots to prep for planting on Saturday. Switch was definitely the issue, but pretty sure the chewed wires created the no power issue.

 

[Old_Paint]

Last Saturday I went to the farm to cut the lane, trails, and about 5 acres of food plots. Needless to say, my M4050 wouldn't start. Initially it would heat the glow plugs, but when I turned to ignition it would give me a dull thud (wouldn't turn over). I've had the issue in the past, and could normally work thru it by gently engaging the starter, but this time it didn't work. I got my screwdriver and started pulling the dash off to look at the wiring. First issue was as soon as I lifted the dash, a filthy mouse was looking back at me. After it ran off, I could see a pretty good nest inside. Worse yet, the last time I hit the glow plugs it cut off all power . Needless to say, I got 0 done last Saturday.

First thing I did was order a new ignition switch, just in case. I needed to get it running before the weekend to have any chance of getting my necessary things done. Left work early yesterday and loaded up the truck with all the tools that could be needed. Pulled the dash apart to find the beginning s of a new nest which I removed and replaced with some mouse poison. Found some wires chewed on which I remedied. Then I pulled the starter switch and installed the new one. All seems easy, except its like solving a Rubix Cube getting the dash off without pulling the steering wheel. While I was in there I noticed an open wire with a male beanie end. Didn't see the female anywhere. I proceeded to get the new switch in to test. Turned the key and had power! Turned to glow plugs and the indicator heated! Turned to start and............nothin!

Sat for a few and thought about the male beanie. With all the wires close to their normal positions, I saw the female end and said a prayer. Got them together and went thru the process again and she came to life!!! Hooked up my brush hog and cut a couple acres of my spring buckwheat plots to prep for planting on Saturday. Switch was definitely the issue, but pretty sure the chewed wires created the no power issue.

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What is it with rodents and oily smelly places that have absolutely nothing for them to eat? Well, at least nothing of nutritional value. I had a squirrel take up residence in the engine bay of my old ‘92 F150. What was so weird is how selective it was about what plastic it chewed on. The oil filler cap, covers on the TAB/TAD valves, and one of dozens of plastic vacuum lines. It was really weird. I’m guessing it was the same one that decided some synthetic trim on my house was tasty. I know they like small secluded spaces to nest, but DAMMIT, go find a hollow log or a hole in a tree. A chipmunk also did the same thing you described to my Husqvarna riding mower and a Swisher brush mower. I’m encouraging red tail hawks to hang around. Plenty here for them to eat.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Supposed to be in the 50s tonight. Great bonfire weather! Better enjoy it before the next heat wave starts on Tuesday. Back to 95+ highs/ 70+ lows.

 

[Toyman]

OldPaint - I thought I was in good shape with the rodents when I got surprised by a large black snake sunning himself on the hood of an old pickup that resides beside my tractor in the old equipment shed. I haven't seen him for a few weeks, but the d@mned mice are flourishing!

 

[The Evil Twin]

OldPaint - I thought I was in good shape with the rodents when I got surprised by a large black snake sunning himself on the hood of an old pickup that resides beside my tractor in the old equipment shed. I haven't seen him for a few weeks, but the d@mned mice are flourishing!

Owls native to your area? I'm planning on putting up Owl boxes to entice them to patrol my land.